Steam just reached 5 million concurrent users.

[Atomkilla]

That's why the first thing I do whenever I buy one (which is seldom) is burn a hard copy. Still, nothing beats a boxed hard copy with a paper manual, and nothing ever will.

I concur.

I do see some merit behind the whole talk that digital copies are sometimes more accessible and eco-friendly, but I still prefer to have a boxed version.
So even if I'm not playing the game or having it installed, just by having it on a hard copy I know it is there, and that I could install and play it anytime I want - digital copies don't give that feeling of security and possession.
It may be irrational to some extent, but I still prefer waiting for a boxed version's price to go down from 50$ to 20$, while the digital copy costs 5$.

 

[PainlessDocM]

I used to enjoy owning / collecting boxed copies of games until the industry switched to those silly dvd cases (often) with flimsy uninspired 2 page "manuals". Now I don't even look at games in brick and mortar stores anymore and buy my games wherever they are cheapest online.

 

[Brother None]

Digital copies are insufficient. That's why the first thing I do whenever I buy one (which is seldom) is burn a hard copy. Still, nothing beats a boxed hard copy with a paper manual, and nothing ever will.

Insufficient for what? I own plenty of DVD/hard copies, both old and new, and when a DD allows backups (not all do), I make backups on a HD. No one is holding a knife to my throat to disallow boxed copies, so buy em if you want em. So "insufficient"? It's not the only method these things are available, except for indies, and most indies were never going to make it to boxed, so it's awesome for them.

But hard copies, to me, are for games I value and want to replay way down the road. One shelf on my bookcase is dedicated completely to Fallout and Fallout collectibles (and a Realms of Arkania Trilogy box), and if I buy new games I often buy hard copy because there's no advantage to buying digital download (since publishers generally don't want DD to be cheaper, which is kinda stupid).

But Steam brings in sales where games are 2.50 or something, games I never got to play in the olden days, and that's a renting price. So I have a ton of games on Steam, and when I'm in a playing mood I can download one I never tried and give it a spin. Getting games you're not so sure about THIS cheaply has never been possible before digital download, and it's an enormous boon for consumers. If Steam crashes tomorrow and I never get to play these games again, I wouldn't shed a tear, games I care to play again I generally own hard copies of.

Just be a smart consumer. You're not limited to any one method, you're free to do as you like. But digital comes with too many advantages to ignore.